Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

May 26, 1971

Don McLean records his #1 hit song American Pie. The song’s refrain “the day the music died” refers to a plane crash in 1959 that killed Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and Ritchie Valens, ending the era of early rock and roll. At 8 minutes and 42 seconds long, it was the longest song to reach #1, a record it held until Taylor Swift‘s 2021 All Too Well (10 Minute Version).